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Vikings: Purple People Eaters not impressed with defense

By Chris Tomassonctomasson@pioneerpress.com

Posted:
10/20/2013 12:01:00 AM CDT

Updated:
10/21/2013 10:44:23 AM CDT

Former Vikings defensive end Jim Marshall (70) speaks to the crowd as his number is retired prior to the Vikings' game against the San Diego Chargers in Minneapolis, Sunday, Nov. 28, 1999. (AP Photo/Paul Battaglia)

The Purple People Eaters are peeved.

During the late 1960s and in the 1970s, the Vikings played some of the best defense the NFL ever has seen. There were two seasons in which that gang didn't even give up 10 points a game.

In years after that, even if it was in the comfort of the Metrodome rather than in the snow at Metropolitan Stadium, the Vikings continued to field some solid defensive teams. But that tradition has been nowhere to be seen this season.

The 1-4 Vikings are giving up 31.6 points per game, on pace to be the worst in the team's 53-year history. The current worst is 30.3, which a 3-13 Minnesota outfit allowed during Les Steckel's one coaching season of 1984.

"The teamwork isn't there, and that kind of hurts me,'' said Jim Marshall, a legendary defensive end on the Purple People Eaters teams who played with the Vikings from 1961-79 and now lives in St. Louis Park. "Nobody loves the Minnesota Vikings the way I do. ... It's very frustrating.''

Marshall played on the 1969 team that gave up a meager 9.5 points per game, then the best showing ever in a 14-game season. The Vikings were nearly as good over the next two years, allowing 10.2 in 1970 and 9.9 in 1971.

"In those days, the offense would get a field goal for a 3-0 lead, and they'd say, 'OK, we've done our job. Go shut them out the rest of the game,' '' said Doug Sutherland, a Vikings defensive tackle from 1971-80 who now lives in Duluth.

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It's far from that now.

"They can't stop anybody,'' Sutherland said.

Sutherland said it "frustrates me to no end'' watching the games. He said he paced around his home during the 35-10 home loss to Carolina on Oct. 13, having three televisions going and grumbling each time the Panthers scored another touchdown.

The Panthers had been averaging just 18.5 points per game until exploding against the woeful Minnesota defense. Also this season, the Vikings have given up 34 points to Detroit, 31 to Chicago, 31 to Cleveland and 27 to Pittsburgh. In games not against Minnesota, the Browns are averaging 16.6 points and the Steelers 18.0.

The secondary has been a huge problem. The Vikings are 29th in the NFL in yards allowed against the pass at 308.0 per game and 31st overall in defense at 418.0. They're 30th in points allowed.

"We are definitely giving up too many points,'' said Vikings coach Leslie Frazier, whose team next plays the New York Giants on Monday night.

Frazier said it comes down to execution and making the plays that are needed. Members of great defensive teams from the past have some other ideas about why Minnesota's defense has been so bad.

"It's been painful to watch for every fan,'' said Bob Lurtsema, a Vikings defensive lineman from 1971-76 who now lives in Lakeville. "You're not seeing effort (from the defense). I'm not seeing wasted energy. You don't see them busting their tail in pursuit or anything like that.''

Looking at the defensive line, Lurtsema believes the Vikings rotate players too often. He said that when a lineman is in for nearly every play he can get a better read on the man he's battling.

"I am confused why they move the linemen in and out to keep them fresh,'' Lurtsema said. "What does fresh mean? You're either in shape or not in shape. ... If a player raised his hand to be taken out with Bud Grant, that would have been his last play. He would have been cut on Monday.''

Grant was head coach of the Purple People Eaters teams, which featured hall of fame defensive linemen Alan Page and Carl Eller. The Vikings were impressive on every aspect of defense. The secondary was led by hall of fame safety Paul Krause, the NFL's all-time leader with 81 interceptions.

"Our attitude back then was, 'Nobody scores on us,' '' Marshall said. "If somebody scored on us, we made sure that was the last time. Everybody on the team was very tight and working together.

"When I look at the games now, it seems like there's no coordination (on defense). They're being very aggressive, and I take my hat off to them for that. I don't know what the defensive scheme is and what the plan is, so I can't really talk about that. But it just seems like there's a lack of coordination on everything that's being done.''

Sutherland said there's no real leader in the secondary after cornerback Antoine Winfield was let go during the offseason. But while defensive backs have received plenty of criticism, Sutherland said there's ample blame to go around for the success opposing quarterbacks have had.

"(Chad) Greenway is a hell of a linebacker, but the other two linebackers are weak,'' Sutherland said. "Obviously, the underneath stuff has to be the linebackers.''

The bad news for the Vikings is their linebacker corps might be even weaker now. Starter Desmond Bishop suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament against the Panthers and is lost for the season. He will be replaced against the Giants by Marvin Mitchell. The other starter is Erin Henderson.

Through it all, though, the former Vikings vow to continue to be loyal to their team. Sutherland might still be pacing around his house Monday, but he'll be watching. So will Marshall and Lurtsema.

"What I can tell you is I always have hope,'' Marshall said. "I always have hope that things are going to click and things are going to come together. And that's what you have every game. You watch and you hope things are going to click.''

At least the Vikings have 11 games left to avoid going down as the worst defensive team in Minnesota history.